UAE bans export of its groundwater

The Ministerial Council for Services approved on Sunday a proposal to ban the export of UAE's groundwater to any destination outside the country.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Ministerial Council for Services under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Ministerial Council for Services was acting upon the recommendation from the Federal National Council, the country's parliamentary body, in this regard which was based on a study carried out by the Ministry of Environment and Water.

The study had shown a decline in the underground water levels of the country and the depletion of water resources as a result of export.

The Ministerial Council for Services also discussed a number of other issues in its meeting today, including the proposal for the treatment and management of waste in the northern emirates of UAE. The proposal was based on a study on the waste disposal and the best scientific mechanism for recycling them and converting them into useful material.

The council also entrusted the Ministry of Environment and Water to propose necessary legislative framework for introducing regulations that will ensure environmental protection and waste management as per the best international practices.

The Council also discussed a study submitted by the Ministry of Economy on the evaluation and analysis of the effects of the free trade agreements on the national economy after the country signed a number of such agreements. The study also contained proposals to ensure the maximum benefit from joining these agreements as well as the minimum expenses caused by them.

The Council also reviewed the mechanism for activating the law of consumer protection and the role of the Ministry of Economy in enforcing those rules.

The Council also discussed a number of other topics on its agenda and took appropriate decisions.